Aston Villa could have secured the future of a problem position for the next decade with two clever pieces of business.
Having qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. Aston Villa fans would have hoped their PSR concerns would be a thing of the past.
However, that has not been the case as the sales of Tim Iroegbunam to Everton, Omari Kellyman to Chelsea and imminent exit of Douglas Luiz to Juventus have all been necessary.
Villa now look set to comply with the Premier League spending rules which have dominated discussion regarding the club for the past month or so and have begun to focus their attention on incomings.
President of footballing operations, Monchi, has worked alongside Unai Emery to bring in Everton’s Lewis Dobbin, but it is his work in another position which has secured Villa’s future for years to come.
Ian Maatsen arrival means Aston Villa no longer have left-back concerns
Villa confirmed on Friday that they have secured the singing of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen for £35 million.
The full-back – who can also play further forward – is just 22 and spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
Maatsen, who played a key role in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final, is currently representing Netherlands at Euro 2024 and is a player Villa fans should be really excited about arriving at Villa Park.
However, Maatsen is not the only left-back arrival this year, with 19-year-old Lino Sousa arriving from Arsenal in February.
With a 19 and 22-year-old available, Emery can be confident he has his two left-backs a number of years.
Monchi business means current Aston Villa left-backs can be phased out
After joining in February, Sousa was immediately loaned out to Championship club Plymouth Argyle for the second half of last season in what was his first taste of senior football.
Another loan is likely this summer, with Watford one club that have been credited with interest in taking the England under-19 international on a temporary deal.
Maatsen’s arrival means Villa can afford to sell one of their current senior left-backs this summer and with Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno both turning 31 before the start of the season it was starting to look like a problem position.
Digne is one of Villa’s highest earners on £120k-a-week, whilst Moreno struggled with injuries last season.
With one sold this summer, a positive loan for Sousa could see him return ready to be the back-up left-back next season.
This would allow Villa to move on the one of Digne or Moreno who stays this summer next year, with Monchi’s masterclass allowing the club to phase out two players that won’t be part of the long-term future.
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